ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

“As such, I have asked my ministry to initiate an investigation into the events that took place … Those responsible should be held accountable.”

Her comments came after Premier Doug Ford told reporters he’d phoned Dunlop to say a probe was in order. 

Senior leaders at the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ board said they will fully co-operate with the provincial probe and noted they launched an internal investigation within 24 hours of the controversial field trip because of “serious concerns about what took place.”

On Sept. 18, students from about 15 schools attended the Grassy Narrows River Run, billed as a community event to support the Grassy Narrows First Nation and their efforts to address mercury contamination. It started in downtown ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ at Grange Park, then demonstrators marched to Queen’s Park.

Parents say they were told the trip was an “educational opportunity” and that students wouldn’t participate in the rally, but would observe speakers. However, videos have surfaced on social media showing kids marching in the rally and some participants joining in chants.

While most of the schools involved were secondary, kids from elementary and middle schools also took part — some as young as eight, sources say. 

The board has apologized for the harm some students may have experienced and while it has launched its own investigation, it’s still possible the province’s announcement will change that in the coming days.

But a joint statement from ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Palestinian Families and ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Jewish Families said the groups are concerned about the investigations, as well as the TDSB’s previous apology, calling them “clear examples of systemic anti-Palestinian racism embedded in our government institutions.

“The mere presence of Palestinians and supporters of Palestinian human rights at an event should never be grounds for an apology or investigation,� they said.

Tamara Gottlieb of Jewish Educators and Families Association of Canada called the province’s probe “a very good first step.â€�

“We very much need external investigators to the TDSB in this moment,” she said ”... This is the beginning of a process to help bring back public confidence in our publicly funded education system.â€�

Trustees have scheduled a special meeting Wednesday night to discuss what happened.

Sources told the Star the Ford government doesn’t trust the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ board to investigate itself and, depending what the provincial probe finds, Dunlop could order further steps — including referrals for disciplinary measures. 

“There’s public outcry,” said ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Trustee Weidong Pei, who had proposed the board’s own investigation be reported publicly and completed by Feb. 1 at the latest.

Pei also wants the board to work with the Ontario College of Teachers, which regulates the profession, by notifying it of any potential misconduct and co-operating with any subsequent disciplinary investigations. 

The college told the Star it is aware of concerns related to the field trip — including allegations that students were asked, or permitted, to participate in a protest — and that it is in the process of gathering information and will initiate disciplinary investigations where appropriate. By law, it can’t comment on any individual complaint or investigation.

Dunlop said student safety was put at risk and parents’ trust compromised, blaming “several activist teachers … along with others associated with this protest, (who) have a history of promoting inflammatory, discriminatory and hateful content. There is no place for this type of teaching in our classrooms.”

A source with knowledge of discussions within the education ministry told the Star that former education minister Stephen Lecce was working on launching an investigation of the TDSB last June over reports of “mismanagement, incompetence and political activism,” said the source, but was moved to another ministry in the cabinet shuffle before that could happen.

The Star contacted a number of boards around Greater ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, and all said they do not allow field trips to rallies or protests as the TDSB did.

(The ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ board has since launched a “review of our field trip procedures and gave notice across the system that students should not be participating in organized protests/rallies/marches as part of any school-related outing,” said a written statement from senior TDSB leaders including acting director of education Louise Sirisko.)

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic board has a blanket ban on students taking field trips or attending any events of a political nature. 

In Halton and Durham, the public boards said no teachers have taken students to protests, nor will they.

“As excursions have an internal approval process, the (Durham District School Board) would not approve any events that would potentially create safety and security concerns for students, staff, or community members,” said a spokesperson.

The York Region District School Board had previously “sent messaging to school administrators reminding them that staff should not be participating in protests during school hours,” said a spokesperson.

The Peel District School Board mandates that excursions be “properly organized and well-planned” and be “an extension of the Ontario curriculum that take students beyond the classroom to increase interest, engagement, knowledge, growth and success.” The board said this would mean no protests.

Ford, speaking Tuesday morning in Port Colborne, said “we can’t have our kids going to any protest — it doesn’t matter what type of protest it is.” 

The ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ board said that “as this situation involved students from approximately 15 schools, as well as multiple staff and students, a thorough investigation will take time to conduct and complete.”

The statement from Sirisko, among others, also said “we have made clear that if the investigation concludes that TDSB policies, procedures or professional standards were not followed, we will take action, including disciplinary action, to ensure accountability.”